Table of Content
- Best Wireless Router of 2022 (WiFi, Budget, Gigabit, AC)
- Do you lose speed with mesh Wi-Fi?
- Eero Pro Mesh Wi-Fi System
- Belkin F9K1123 AC1200 Dual-Band AC WiFi Router ($18.
- What you need to know about wireless routers in 2019
- Best Budget Wi-Fi 6E Router
- Linksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 MU-MIMO Tri-Band Smart Wi-Fi Router ($178.
It really comes down to whether you're a gamer or stream to different TVs in the house at the same time. Another bonus is that if you're an Xfinity phone service customer, you can plug your landline handset right in. Furthermore, the 802.11ac protocol and 802.11ad protocol also utilizes theMU-MIMO technology. Simply, this uses more than one antenna to send and receive data for a really fast and uninterrupted surfing experience. This router is AiMesh compatible so you can cover more area if you have another Asus WiFi that’s also AiMesh compatible.
In fact, the ZenWiFi AX offers the same multigig WAN ports as the Orbi AX6000, which is a great piece of future-proofing that you don't always get in this price range. On average, the Nest Wifi notched the fastest top speeds that I saw in my tests from any Wi-Fi 5 mesh router (and faster speeds than some of the Wi-Fi 6 systems I've tested, too). It also aced our mesh tests, never once dropping my connection as I moved about my home running speed tests. I never caught it routing my connection through the extender when connecting directly to the router was faster, either, which is a common pitfall for mesh connections.
Best Wireless Router of 2022 (WiFi, Budget, Gigabit, AC)
Everything from surfing the web to streaming video was solid within an approximate 2,000-square-foot radius. In the basement and more distant locations of the house, the signal was weak, but that's to be expected. Lastly, remember that these numbers represent the combined speeds that are available to all of your connected devices across all of the bands the router offers. Don't let the numbers fool you into thinking that a tri-band AC5400 router is significantly faster than a dual-band AC3000 router, as both likely offer similar speeds on each band. Our expert reviewers and editors evaluate routers based on design, connectivity, performance, and features. We test their performance in both wired and wireless configurations, measure their effective range and bandwidth, and analyze their feature sets, including how well those features are implemented.
The wireless standards supported by a router determine which devices are able to connect to that router. These standards have evolved a lot over the years, so it’s important to make sure that you choose a router that works with the same standards as your devices to get the best experience. This Synology router ended up alongside two other dual-band routers (the Asus Blue Cave and Asus RT-AC86U) at the top of our performance charts. Like the Archer A20, each of these routers was able to handle the traffic our multi-client test generated and to give us a smooth browsing experience. And the Synology was able to keep a strong connection to our long-distance testing site, transferring data at a speedy 166 Mbps throughput (by comparison, the budget TP-Link Archer A7 was able to manage throughput of only 27 Mbps to the garage). Any of our picks will easily outperform any router you got from your Internet service provider, or any router more than a few years old.
Do you lose speed with mesh Wi-Fi?
Not only does this mesh Wi-Fi system provide the full Google experience, but it also packs some other really nice bonus features. Originally hailing from Troy, Ohio, Ry Crist is a text-based adventure connoisseur, a lover of terrible movies and an enthusiastic yet mediocre cook. A CNET editor since 2013, Ry's beats include smart home tech, lighting, appliances, and home networking. Immediately check for any available firmware updates for your router, and recheck every few months. Updating will help ensure that you get the best performance, security, and reliability.
There's a lot to like about it, but the average speeds were underwhelming among Wi-Fi 6E systems. The Vilo mesh router is the slowest I've ever tested, but it's functional, and it only costs $20 per device, plus shipping. A good mesh Wi-Fi system will spread fast, reliable internet speeds throughout your entire home. Since your cable modem has to be registered with your ISP to work properly, it's important to buy one that's guaranteed to be compatible. While some ISPs may let you register any cable modem, most will refuse to set one up that isn't on its approved list. We're aware we're going to sound a bit snobby, but if we were going to go with one of the two Netgear products on this page, we'd save up for the CAX80 only because it looks so much nicer.
Eero Pro Mesh Wi-Fi System
It isn't as high-powered and it isn't a tri-band system like its big brother, but it comes with three devices that all support Wi-Fi 6 for $250, which makes it interesting. There was also a new dual-band ZenWiFi system last year called the ZenWiFi XD6 -- it performed quite well in our tests, but it only costs slightly less than the XT8. I also appreciated the depth of control in the Asus app, which lets you manage your network and customize that backhaul as you see fit. Bill Thomas is a Denver-based freelance writer who covers technology, music, film, and gaming. The 5 GHz band is significantly slower than the 60 GHz band, but still insanely faster compared to the 2.4GHz band. But this is somewhat limited to a small area and is only compatible with modern devices.
We thoroughly test all routers that come through PC Labs, so you'll know how much muscle a product has before you buy. Nowadays, any router worth its salt will offer at least two radio bands, a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band. The 2.4GHz band operates at a lower frequency than the 5GHz band and offers better range because it is more adept at penetrating walls and other structures. However, it doesn't offer the fat pipe and high-speed access that you get with the 5GHz band.
There's also theTP-Link Deco X90, a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that outperformed the W7200 in my tests and adds in a multigig Ethernet jack for high-speed internet plans. It typically sells for close to $450 for a two-pack, but it's worth a look if you can catch it on sale. DOCSIS, which stands for Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications, is the standard cable companies use to give your home internet access. It's been around for over 20 years, so there are lots of different versions of it.
The Asus ROG Strix GS-AX5400 is a well-equipped Wi-Fi 6 router that delivers speedy throughput and comes with lots of features designed to enhance your online gaming experience. Is the newest encryption standard for web traffic, and most of the newest mesh routers on the market offer it. If you're buying a new router of any kind at this point, that's a standard worth prioritizing. Netgear brought the cost down by sticking with Wi-Fi 5, ditching the built-in Alexa speaker that comes with theOrbi Voice and skipping the tri-band approach and the dedicated 5GHz backhaul band that other Orbi systems use to connect each device in the mesh. I wonder if Netgear missed an opportunity by not branding this system as "Orbi Lite."
If you're curious about mesh routers but put off by the high asking price, then give this bargain system a shot. That's the best deal I've seen for a tri-band mesh router with support for Wi-Fi 6 -- and sure enough, it's an excellent performer, as well. In fact, the only system that managed to outperform it outright in my at-home speed tests is the AX6000 version of Netgear Orbi, which costs more than three times as much . On top of that, TP-Link's setup process is about as easy as it gets, with satellite extenders that automatically join the mesh as soon as you plug them in. All of that made it more important than ever to have a dependable router running your home's wireless network. Even as things have opened up again, the rise of smart home devices that need Wi-Fi certainly makes a strong case for a Wi-Fi router that can handle the load.
For example, a dual-band AC1700 router has a theoretical maximum speed of 1,700Mbps, but that's split across both its 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Similarly, tri-band routers usually have much higher numbers like AC5400 since that total speed is divvied up across three bands instead of only two. There's also still only one 2.4GHz band, so a tri-band router won't do anything at all to help your older 2.4GHz devices—they'll remain cluttered up together on the lone 2.4GHz band. Other features, like range, speed, and ports all impact the usability of a router and can have a huge effect on your overall experience and satisfaction.
And with the in-app optimization, you can make sure that that signal is a wicked fast and optimizes your network for exactly what it needs. The multichannel signal utilizes radar-sensing hardware to hop on normally restricted channels to extend your network even further. And if you’d like to optimize how your signal is used, whether to prioritize gaming, streaming or voice, you can do that right from the Razer app. It’s not going to win any beauty pageants, but then when you’re this fast, you don’t need to worry about aesthetics. TP-Link’s Archer GX-90 is a powerful tri-band Wi-Fi 6 gaming router that delivers impressive performance and bristles with features like multi-gig connectivity, robust parental controls, network security software, and game optimization tools. Some lack USB jacks, and others limit you to only one or two spare Ethernet ports for wired connections to media streamers, smart home bridges and other common peripherals.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. Lifewire EV EVs have been around a long time but are quickly gaining speed in the automotive industry.
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